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Valentine’s Day

The time has come again. Every year, millions of people around the world celebrate this special occasion on 14th February, the Valentine’s Day. It’s kind of amazing on how loving and caring people can be on this particular day. Here, I will talk more about Valentine’s Day, what can we do to spend time with our love ones on the particular day.

According to legend, the holiday has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalis/Lupercalia, a fertility celebration commemorated annually on February 15. As Christianity came to dominance in Europe, pagan such as Lupercalia were frequently renamed for early Christian martyrs. In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius recast this pagan festival as a Christian feast day circa 496, declaring February 14 to be the feast day of the Roman martyr Saint Valentine, who lived in the 3rd century.

Which St. Valentine this early pope intended to honor remains a mystery. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by that name. One was a priest in Rome, another a bishop in Terni, and of a third St. Valentine almost nothing is known except that he met his end in Africa. Rather astonishingly, all three Valentines were said to have been martyred on February 14.

Most scholars believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday was a priest who attracted the disfavor of Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. The history of St. Valentine’s Day has two legends attached to it – the Protestant and the Catholic legend. According to both legends, Valentine was a bishop who held secret marriage ceremonies of soldiers in opposition to Claudius II who had prohibited marriage for young men and was executed by the latter. Although many scholars agree that Lupercalia was moved from Feb. 15th to the 14th and was Christianized by associating it with this St. Valentine character, it is still unclear just who the historical St. Valentine was. One school of thought believes that he was a Roman martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest/bishop of Rome in about the year 270 A.D.

At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius-II who had issued an edict forbidding marriage. This was around when the heyday of Roman empire had almost come to an end. Lack of quality administrators led to frequent civil strife. Learning declined, taxation increased, and slumped to a low, precarious level. And the Gauls, Slavs, Huns, Turks and Mongolians from Northern Europe and Asian increased their pressure on the empire’s boundaries. The empire was grown too large to be shielded from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces. Thus more of capable men were required to be recruited as soldiers and officers. When Claudius became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, will not make good soldiers. He believed it made the men weak. So to assure quality soldiers, he banned marriage.

Valentine, realized the injustice of the decree. Seeing the trauma of young lovers, he met them in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. He defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. But Claudius soon learned of this “friend of lovers,” and had him arrested.

While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in contact with his jailor, Asterius. The jailor had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. The Catholic legend has it that through the vehicle of his strong faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius’ daughter, a phenomenon refuted by the Protestant version which agrees otherwise with the Catholic one. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her “From Your Valentine,” a phrase that lived ever after. Another legend has it that Valentine, imprisoned by Claudius, fell in love with the daughter of his jailer. However, this legend is not given much importance by historians. Probably the most plausible story surrounding St. Valentine is one not focused on Eros (passionate love) but on agape (Christian love): he was martyred for refusing to renounce his religion.

The emperor, impressed with the young priest’s dignity and conviction, attempted to convert him to the Roman gods, to save him from certain execution. Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. What happened was what was to happen. All attempts to convert the emperor failed.

On February 14, 270 AD, Valentine was executed. Valentine thus become a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St.Valentine’s name.

HAPPENINGS ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Valentine’s Day is the day where couples and families go out and celebrate. Be it having dinner together, or exchanging gifts, most of the shopping malls and outlets are taking advantage of this particular day. Here are some of events and promotions that might interest you to spend with your loved ones on Valentine’s Day.

Acoustic Jaya

Held in the heart of Jaya One, “Palm Square Presents” is a fresh new weekly event featuring local performing artists in all manner of sin, from singer-songwriter sessions to stand up comedy.

Palm Square presents Acoustic Jaya is a free-to-play outdoor concert, live and under the stars, that happens every first and last weekend of the month. Acoustic Jaya was created as a live and free music series featuring the most original and independent singer-songwriter talents in the Klang Valley. The series aims to offer these young and gifted artistes a creative community space to call their own and to bring their music to a brand new audience in PJ.

Tony Selvaraj

On Valentine’s Day, Acoustic Jaya presents Tony Selvaraj, a self-taught musician who plays the guitar, the bass guitar, drums and numerous percussion instruments. He started writing his own songs at the age of 17. Having co-founded the Da Funk Project and Da Praise Project, he is currently a full-time musician and music teacher attached to the Trinity Community Centre, The Acts School of Arts and KLPac. He is also a member of the Young Kuala Lumpur Singers. Recently, Tony was the band singer and guitarist for Broken Bridges: The Musical here at KLPac.

Candlelight Dinner – BBQ Chicken @ Jaya One

Looking for a place to have candlelight dinner? And to many choices to choose from? Bring your loved ones to BBQ Chicken and impress your partner with the tasty Korean Charbroiled Chicken and get entertained by Tony Selvaraj, who will be performing for Acoustic Jaya.

Located in the heart of Palm Square, Jaya One, BBQ chicken is supported by a proven operations and management system. BBQ Chicken is a trade brand name under the management of Genesis BBQ (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, successfully obtained HALAL certification from the recognized Islamic bodies in Malaysia. Book you place now as it is only limit to 14 tables. Table for two for just RM69.99 including soup, salad, choices of main course and dessert.